Re-Viewed: The Exies and 10 Years

By Julene McCoy in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 10, 2005 7:02PM

Last evening Chicagoist stopped by the Elbo Room to see The Exies and 10 Years for a lesson in radio-friendly rock and roll.

10 Years hail from Knoxville, TN and started off the evening with their heavy, melodic and emotional blast of nu metal. They played songs from their EP "Killing All That Holds You" and the forthcoming major label album "Autumn Effect" due out August 2nd. Lead singer Jesse Hasek's voice reveals the band's obvious love of Tool on "Wasteland" the song out on the radio now.

The Exies get on stage and jump right into their set with "Splinter". The Exies have everyone moving along to the music and raising their fists in defiance, and the wall of sound stops only for moments between songs to give us insight about the meaning of the next song. The Exies clearly know how to write great guitar riffs and choruses that get stuck in your head like those on "Baptize Me".

Full force ahead until it was time to play "Ugly" the first single off "Head From The Door". At this point Scott Stevens, who seems to channel Kurt Cobain and Chris Hall of Stabbing Westward alternately, asked if anyone was in attendance from the Mancow Show and let us know he feels that Mancow is not only a dick on air, but off the air as well. The Exies continued the passionate and quiet/loud dynamics that are their calling card with the songs "Hey You" and "Normal". The show closed out with "My Goddess" from 2003's Inertia.

A great little show was put on by both 10 Years and The Exies at the Elbo Room. Each band graciously made themselves available to the fans for photos and conversation after their sets. This surely won't be happening for much longer as 10 Years release their major label album and The Exies gain even more recognition from this summer's tour supporting Motley Crue.

The Exies Set List

Splinter
Slow Drain
Baptize Me
My Opinion
Dear Enemy
Ugly
What You Deserve
Hey You
Normal
Genius
My Goddess